When Wendy and Christian Seem’s Realtor gave them a to-do list to get their Brentwood home ready to sell, they followed it almost exactly. That’s one reason why the house sold in just three days.

They pushed back just once, when their agent suggested removing some family photos and a small sculpture.

“Our big family pictures on the wall, he (Christian) said ‘I love them.’ They stayed on the wall,” said Wendy Seem.

The sculpture, a statue of a girl with a serving tray, had been in the family for years. At some point she got a name: Emma.

“We said, 'She’ll stay,' ” said Christian Seem.

Realtor Lisa Culp Taylor worked with the Seems to remove all personal photos, clean closets and surfaces, organize the garage and even reconfigure the home’s furniture — all resulting in a quick sale.(Photo11: Courtesy of the LCT Team — Parks)

Removing the photos was item No. 3 on a list of tips Realtor Lisa Culp Taylor has for every client selling a home.

“Remove clutter throughout your home. Do this once and then repeat!” the list says.

The spring home selling season is about to start and there is no time to delay, said Taylor, who leads the LCT Team at Parks real estate company. Sales usually begin to pick up from the winter doldrums as early as mid-February.

“In Nashville, our spring market starts a little early, so starting to prepare now is important. Walk around your house with a critical eye. Is the paint fresh? Are there cobwebs in the corner?” she said.

Homeowners should reduce personal items throughout the home, including the master bedroom.(Photo11: Courtesy of the LCT Team — Parks)

Waiting to make repairs or changes can be a costly mistake, said Realtor Jeff Checko, with the Ashton Real Estate Group at Re/Max Advantage.

“People listing, if they wait until it’s time to jump in the pool, they’re missing the boat,” he said.

“People can be guilty of investing in their new home and the idea of investing in something they’re selling is not something they can get their head around,” he said.

Removing clutter is an important tip for preparing to sell a home, like this current LCT Team listing at 1221 Echo Drive in Franklin.(Photo11: Courtesy of the LCT Team — Parks)

A Realtor who doesn’t have an emotional attachment to the home can help sellers avoid costly missteps and oversights. Some features you love, for example, might reduce the home’s value if they are no longer on-trend.

“With the move toward white marble, if you have 2005 black granite counter tops,” it could be time to make a change, said Checko.

Owners of the Echo Drive listing for the LCT Team cleared all counter clutter and stored appliances.(Photo11: Courtesy of the LCT Team — Parks)

That wasn’t an issue for the Seems, who made a point of keeping their home up to date over the eight years they lived there. They painted the deck each year, for example.

“We’d start on the outside and work our way inside,” said Christian Seem.

When Taylor handed them her list of recommendations, they were ready. They removed some items from a bookshelf in the office, touched up the paint and placed a bouquet of flowers in the kitchen. They decluttered and rented a storage space for those items.

They got the response they were looking for. Wendy Seem said 68 people visited during their Sunday open house. Seven of them made offers, two above asking price.

After an evaluation by Realtor Lisa Culp Taylor, followed by extensive de-cluttering and preparation, the Brentwood home of Christian and Wendy Seem earned multiple offers.(Photo11: Courtesy of the LCT Team — Parks)

The Seems enjoy going to open houses and coming back with ideas for keeping their own home fresh. Taylor said taking simple steps now can help anyone else who is selling a house. She recommends: